Minerva and Cthulhu

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Cast in a weather-resistant composition of acrylic, epoxy, and fiberglass, the fountain depicts a scene from the Trojan War: Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, furious at the mythological Greek hero Ajax, calls on Neptune, the god of water and sea, to raise a storm to smite the Aechean fleet. A sea nymph crouches at the ready nearby. Water spurts from the Medusa shield resting on Minerva's left shoulder and hand and from the rocks and shells in the fountain's base. The piece was displayed at Pennsic War, the annual American medieval camping event held by the Society for Creative Anachronism, and then at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, before its installation in Hollywood Park.

Now Baksik is looking for a patron to support the creation of a massive stone, bronze, and glass fountain inspired by the Richard Wagner opera Das Rheingold. "I've already made the model and perfected some innovative glass processes for it," he says.

Is there room in the Nickersons' back yard for yet another monumental water feature? "No," chuckles Kevin. "I think we've got enough sculpture at this house."